So I've changed to writing my blog on my phone. This way I'll hopefully be able to post updates a little more frequently - I can just pause in a wifi zone during my run and upload it.
Ok... Today, what did I do today. So much, and really not that much. Haha. It was great.
First of all, I sat in on the Love Africa group meeting again last night as they made their plans for the week. They decided that they were going to hike Mt. Longonot on Monday - so I invited myself to join them... And yet said yes! Yay!!! Since my second day here I have been looking for people to hike it with. One of the guys in the group (Justin) might even be willing to run portions of it with me. But I said only if I'm feeling up to it. I've still got this cold thing that seems to be going around, and I don't know how much energy I'm going to have tomorrow.
Anyways, that was yesterday... What about today. Today I was up early for church and attended the AIC Kijabe church. I'll be perfectly honest, I'm not a huge fan of it. It isn't what you'd expect for a church in Africa, and it also isn't like church at home. The songs are all old and unfamiliar, there are about an hour of announcements, and then an hour (plus) of preaching. So the service lasts nearly 3 hours.
When I got up to leave I met a lovely couple who are here helping with a construction project for Bethany Kids (the paediatric wing of the hospital). We chatted on our way out of the building, and just before we parted ways Judith asked if she could give me her phone number, and told me to call her up when I have a free evening so that I can come to their house for supper.
This trip is really stretching me in that area... Learning to accept things from others, and to call up and ask for it!! Hmmm. It's a real challenge for me, but I definitely plan on taking her up on the offer.
I swung by RVA to post a quick lil hello to my family, and then planned to head back down the hill. As I was sitting in the courtyard I heard a "hello - you're the nurse who runs, right?" It was one of the ladies (Carla) that I had briefly met last Monday at the dessert night at the Davis' house. Her husband (August) and I had chatted for quite a while about running that evening. She told me that her daughter is considering nursing school in the states and wondered if I had any advice for her... So I'm thinking I might invite myself over to their place some time to to talk about nursing stuff. Haha.
Just as I was getting back to the guesthouse my phone rang and it was Jane asking if I was ready to come over to her house... I had just enough time to pop upstairs and grab my camera and then turn back around and head out the door.
We met at the hospital gates and then walked into Kijabe. Past all the dukas (shops) the place where all the locals live really begins. Shacks and concrete buildings with rooms for rent are all over the place. Kids in the street would stop stare at me and ten run up and grab my hand as we walked to Jane's house. It made my heart feel like it was going to burst.
We turned left off the "main road" and down this narrow, rough muddy lane. One of the last buildings before the road disappeared into the wilderness sat below the road to the right... So that the roof was level with the road. We picked our way down this narrow trail, and turned left to face the building.
Jane's house was the third door down, which opened up into a little one room "apartment". She has separated it into two rooms with an ornate gold embroidered curtain. In the "front room" is her kitchen, dining and living room. She has a couch, two arm chairs and a coffee table, a tv, a narrow little shelf that holds her flour, sugar and dishes, a burner for cooking on, and a high shelf that holds the rest of her cooking supplies, spices and food. On the other side of the curtain is her bedroom. There is no bathroom or shower/bathing place in her room. Outside there is a communal toilet for everyone in the building to share.
As we sat there in that room, making a delicious and simple Kenyan meal, it made me realize how much I have that I really don't need. She was so excited to host me... It made me feel so special and so selfish. It made me realize how much I have to share with others, and how rarely I do that. Here was someone to has so little, lives so simply, and works SO hard... And is so willing to take time out of her day to bless a "stranger" with a meal, fellowship, teaching and love.
We made pilau... Which is onions, garlic, pilau masala, some kind of meat, rice and tomatoes. It was tasty. Afterwards we walked to buy milk and again the little kids ran after me to hold my hand as we walked. When we got back we made chai. Now chai here really isn't anything like chai lattes from Starbucks back home. Here it is water, milk, lots of sugar and then simple black tea. Mostly it is just really sweet milk. I'm definitely getting my sugar fix with ever cup of chai I have. Diabetes here I come! Haha.
Before I left Jane commented on the other Kenyan food she wants to teach me how to make, and said she would call me the next time she has days off. What a beautiful, kind, generous woman. I have so much to learn.
The rest of my day was spent hanging out with my Love Africa people... And making plans for tomorrow's hike. I'm SO looking forward to it. It's pouring rain right now... Which means the trail will most likely be a slippery mess tomorrow... But I don't care. It will be a wonderful adventure with beautiful new friends.
Day 15 (Monday May 25, 2015)
What an absolutely wonderful day. I spent today away from the hospital, and hiking one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. Mt. Longonot is stunning. It's a 3km climb up to the ridge of the crater... And the a 7km climb/scramble around the rim. Amazing. Stunning. Beautiful. Breath taking. I loved every second of today.
I took a special little trip over the the Halestrap's this evening just so I could upload some pictures because I couldn't wait to share them. I wish I could do that hike every day. I think if I lived here I would. Haha.
I had so much fun with Hannah, Hunter, Krista, Derek, Justin, Jack and Rachel. We laughed, sang, danced, skipped, walked, ran and thoroughly enjoyed our day. It was epic, and something I won't forget in a hurry! Definitely worth playing hookey from the hospital today. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again if the opportunity presents itself.
BUT, next time I will re-apply sunscreen throughout the day. I'm feeling quite toasty as I crawl into bed. This evening. I sure am glad I remembered to pack my aloe! So I'll slather up once more and crawl into bed.
It's already 10 and I'm up and at the hospital by 7:30. Tomorrow I'm starting a 4 day stint in casualty (emerg)... So that should be interesting.
Sorry that I don't have anything else very interesting to write about today. I'm sure there are things I could say or pictures I could try to show, but it just wouldn't do it justice... You kinda had to be there.
Day 16 (Tuesday May 26, 2015)
So after a wonderful day yesterday.... I'm feeling not quite myself today. A lil down, a little tired, and a lot sick. It started out this morning with pretty bad congestion, and is now sitting like a rock in my tummy. This is just about the halfway point of my trip, and I was SO hoping that I wouldn't get sick. Bummer.
I think this is probably a combination of not only a cold, but a lot of sun and output yesterday, and maybe not quite enough water. I was supposed to be in casualty all day today, but made the call to leave early and take it easy for the rest of the day. Maybe even as far as taking a nap!
I just have a few little insights to add from today, and then I'll probably go crawl into bed.
The casualty department is much like home, no necessarily the new emerg in Nanaimo, but it does remind me of being in emerg in Chemainus when I was 7. Still a lot of HOW they actually do stuff is so different than at home, but honestly, they do the best with what they have.
At the end of my day there a lady in her 60s was all of a sudden really not doing well. She hadn't been our patient so it wasn't until we were standing at her bedside with the crash cart that I got the whole story. They were unable to get a BP on her, her pulse was weak and not consistent... And she was no longer responsive. She had been in multiple times in the last couple months and it had been identified that she was pretty much full of cancer. Her lungs, her spine... All the places you really don't want it to be.
It was decided that she would be kept comfortable, they would give oxygen... But that it just wasn't worth it to resuscitate her. Her cancer had metastisized to a point where even if they could resuscitate her, she would most likely die in a few weeks or months. And here, because the family has to pay for everything, it just isn't feasible. Heartbreaking, but I get it.
Another curious thing I noted today (totally not hospital or health related) is that when vehicles come down into Kijabe they often aren't running, they're just coasting down the hill. I think it's mostly with the motorbikes... But I had been wondering why it just sounded odd when they came flying down the hill. It's because you don't here the engine at all... You just hear the rattling of finders, mudflaps, and other loose parts as they bounce over the terrible roads. As the road levels out all of a sudden they're ten times louder because they actually turn the bike on. Haha. Well, I guess it saves fuel costs!
Ok, I'm going to rest now. Hope you're all having wonderful weeks!
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